Here is the news coverage: Election Delayed Again July 14 2010
And the Election Board decision: Election Board Opinion Russell McClellan 7 13 10
Michigan Indian
Photos and Captions from Hearing in Muskegon on LRBOI Compact
From the Muskegon Chronicle. Click through for the slideshow and captions.
Also, live blogging coverage of the event, also from the Chronicle. Not sure why the updates end before the hearing did.
Video excerpt, starting with Rep. Johnson and Ogema Romenelli.
Still More on Martin v. Little River Band — State Court Claims
Here are the materials in Martin v. Little River Band in Manistee County Circuit Court (apparently, there is a hearing Monday on the motion to dismiss):
MI Reg Reform Committee Meeting Now in Muskegon
Supporters of the LRBOI Fruitport casino are testifying now in front of the MI Legislature’s Regulatory Reform Committee at Muskegon Community College. From the site:
9:30 AM
Regulatory Reform
Muskegon Community College James L. Stevenson Center for Higher Education – Room 1100 221 South Quarterline Road Muskegon, MI 49442
Important Michigan Tribal Court Decision re: Civil Rights, Judicial Immunity, and the Awarding of Attorney Fees
Here is the decision in Joseph Martin v. Little River Band of Ottawa Indians from the Little River Band Tribal Court (Judge Bill Brott, sitting pro tem): Martin v. LRB.
One Michigan Racino Ballot Proposal Fails to Acquire Enough Signatures
From the Muskegon Chronicle, via Pechanga:
LANSING — A ballot initiative that would have allowed for seven more corporate casinos in Michigan, including one in Muskegon, has failed.
A coalition called Michigan Is Yours, which pushed the casino-expansion proposal, did not turn in the voter signatures needed — more than 380,000 — to make the Nov. 2 ballot by Monday’s deadline, according to state election officials.
The proposal, if approved by voters, would have put in the state Constitution the ability of a company called My-Casino Inc. to establish corporate casinos in seven specific locations — the cities of Muskegon, Lansing, Detroit, Benton Harbor, Flint and Port Huron, along with the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
This failed ballot initiative is not connected to the proposed American Indian casino in Fruitport Township. A tribal casino does not require a vote of the people, but the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians needs several approvals of state and federal officials before the tribe’s proposed casino development can be built at the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack site.
Continue reading
Testimony in Mich. House Committee Hearing on Little River Band Off-Rez Gaming Proposal
Intertribal Fight in Michigan over Little River Off-Rez Casino Proposal
From the K’zoo Gazette via Pechanga:
FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP — A top official of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is lashing back at other Indian tribes, accusing them of delaying a proposed Fruitport Township casino to choke off potential competition for their casinos.
“We understand other casino interests do not want competition, but don’t delay jobs for the Muskegon region. Don’t delay revenues to the state School Aid Fund,” said Robert Memberto, commerce director for the Little River Band, which wants to build a casino at the former Great Lakes Downs race track.
He accused the other tribes of “throwing all kinds of minutiae to delay, delay and delay this project.”
Memberto delivered his plea last week to the House Regulatory Reform Committee in Lansing, which is deciding on a resolution that would pave the way for a Fruitport Township casino.
Leaders from three other tribes — the Gun Lake Tribe, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi — testified against the Little River Band proposal. They claimed that state approval of a casino in Fruitport Township would break an agreement that tribes in Michigan would not pursue off-reservation gambling unless all the tribes agreed. They also suggested that the authority of taking land into trust for off-reservation casinos rests with the U.S. Department of Interior, not state leadership.
Stupak Says EPA Decided Not to Require Federal Permit at Kennecott Mine
From ABS News.
Sault Tribe Chair Joe McCoy on the Loss of Greektown Casino
Well, they sent it to me, so I’ll post it:
I write this memo to our tribal and casino team members to inform you that after more than two years in Chapter 11 reorganization, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) transferred the license of Greektown Casino from the Tribe to a group of private hedge funds and investors from other states. This happened yesterday at a special meeting of the MGCB in Detroit. We anticipate that next week, ownership of the casino will be legally transferred to the group.
The transfer occurred after the MGCB conducted a relatively abbreviated background check of the new owners. We strongly objected to this decision. Concerns were also raised by state Representative Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, Republican candidate for governor Mike Bouchard (who wrote the state law that governs the three Detroit casinos when he was in the state Senate), state Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop, R-Troy, and Congressman Bart Stupak, D-Menominee. Unfortunately, the MGCB ignored all the concerns and abandoned its own rules and the process it has used over the years to license casino owners.
The board and I spent many days, weeks, and months reviewing plans and proposals that would allow us to keep a stake in Greektown. Though some might disagree, I truly believe we did all we could to save our interest in this investment. Now that this decision has been made, it is time for the Tribe to examine other opportunities we have to grow our revenue stream securing membership services for years to come.
Turtle Talk 
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